Canada: jobs employers are approved to fill with foreign workers
Before most employers in Canada can hire a foreign worker, they need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The government publishes every approved employer each quarter. Figures here are for Q1 2026.
Canada: route to permanent residence
Graduate in Canada, get a post-graduation work permit, then apply through Express Entry after a year of skilled work.
- Study permitCanadian degree or diplomaCollege programs must match a shortage field
- PGWPPost-graduation work permitUp to 3 years, based on program length
- Work1 year skilled workTEER 0 to 3 jobs
- Express EntryCanadian Experience ClassInvited by CRS score or category draw
- PRPermanent residence
Canada: route to permanent residence
Come on an employer's LMIA work permit, then look for a provincial nomination. There is no federal route for most TEER 4 and 5 jobs.
- LMIAEmployer gets approvalEmployer may not charge you for it
- Work permitTemporary foreign workerTied to that employer
- WorkBuild Canadian experienceTrades in TEER 2 or 3 can use Express Entry
- PNPProvincial nominationRegional and in-demand streams vary by province
- PRPermanent residence
Rules as of October 2026. Sources: IRCC post-graduation work permit, Moving2Canada on the closed TEER 4–5 pathway (Aug 2025). Always confirm with the official immigration authority.
Visa types and requirements
Pick a visa to see its language, education and experience requirements, how long it lasts and where it leads.
Study permit Study permit
- Language
- Set by the school
- Education
- Acceptance at a designated learning institution
- Experience
- None
- Other conditions
- Proof of funds; provincial attestation letter in most cases
- Length of stay
- Length of the program
- Leads to
- PGWP
PGWP Post-graduation work permit
- Language
- CLB 7 for university graduates, CLB 5 for college graduates
- Education
- Eligible program of 8 months or more; college programs must be in a shortage field
- Experience
- None
- Other conditions
- Open work permit, any employer
- Length of stay
- Up to 3 years; 3 years for programs of 2 years or more
- Leads to
- Canadian Experience Class
LMIA work permit Employer-specific work permit
- Language
- No federal test; set by the employer
- Education
- As the job requires
- Experience
- As the job requires
- Other conditions
- Employer needs a positive LMIA and may not charge you for it
- Length of stay
- Usually up to the LMIA period
- Leads to
- Provincial nomination or Express Entry
CEC Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
- Language
- CLB 7 for TEER 0–1 jobs, CLB 5 for TEER 2–3
- Education
- Not required (earns points)
- Experience
- 1 year of skilled work in Canada within the last 3 years
- Other conditions
- Invited by CRS score or category draw
- Length of stay
- Permanent
- Leads to
- Citizenship after 3 years of residence in 5
FST Federal Skilled Trades (Express Entry)
- Language
- CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing
- Education
- No minimum
- Experience
- 2 years in the trade within the last 5 years
- Other conditions
- A 1-year job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification
- Length of stay
- Permanent
- Leads to
- Citizenship after 3 years of residence in 5
PNP Provincial Nominee Program
- Language
- Set by each province; semi-skilled streams often ask CLB 4–5
- Education
- Set by each province
- Experience
- Usually work for an employer in that province
- Other conditions
- Main route for TEER 4–5 jobs
- Length of stay
- Permanent
- Leads to
- Citizenship after 3 years of residence in 5
October 2026 rules. Sources: IRCC Express Entry, BridgePoint Law PGWP guide, immigration.ca on Federal Skilled Trades. Confirm with the official immigration authority before applying.
Approved positions by job
An LMIA leads to a work permit. Positions in the permanent residence stream are LMIAs issued only to support a PR application, usually through Express Entry.
Manufacturing
- Welder 232 positions 0 for PR
- Assembly line worker 7 positions 0 for PR
- Industrial machinery mechanic 92 positions 0 for PR
Food processing and farms
- Meat and poultry trimmer 99 positions 0 for PR
- Meat packer 705 positions 0 for PR
- Butcher 127 positions 0 for PR
- Livestock and poultry farmworker 1,572 positions 0 for PR
Construction and repair
- Electrician 21 positions 0 for PR
- Plumber 20 positions 0 for PR
- Construction laborer 264 positions 0 for PR
- Auto mechanic 216 positions 3 for PR
Hospitality and logistics
- Cook 541 positions 3 for PR
- Hotel housekeeper 199 positions 0 for PR
- Warehouse worker 66 positions 0 for PR
Healthcare
Search approved employers Check whether a company has been approved to hire foreign workers.
Recent Express Entry draws
Express Entry invites candidates to apply for permanent residence. The score is the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that received an invitation in that draw.
| Draw | Date | Type | Invitations | Lowest CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #453 | 2026-10-28 | Transport Occupations, 2026-Version 2 | 150 | 477 |
| #452 | 2026-10-27 | French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 | 5,000 | 407 |
| #451 | 2026-10-26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 792 | 761 |
| #450 | 2026-10-16 | French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 | 5,000 | 435 |
| #449 | 2026-10-15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,500 | 519 |
| #448 | 2026-10-13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 752 | 772 |
| #447 | 2026-10-01 | Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3 | 3,500 | 476 |
| #446 | 2026-09-29 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| #445 | 2026-09-28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| #444 | 2026-09-16 | Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 | 250 | 389 |
| #443 | 2026-09-15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| #442 | 2026-09-14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 576 | 734 |
| #441 | 2026-09-04 | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3 | 3,500 | 475 |
| #440 | 2026-09-03 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 | 229 | 198 |
| #439 | 2026-09-01 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |